Oregon tight end ‘Spider’ Webb, social media star, dies of head injury
EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon Ducks tight end Spencer Webb has died after falling and striking his head on rock slides at a popular swimming lake near Eugene, Ore., authorities said.
The 22-year-old, who was expected to play his fifth football season at the University of Oregon this fall, was found about 100 yards down a steep trail Wednesday afternoon at Triangle Lake. He was unresponsive and could not be revived by paramedics or bystanders, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office said in statement.
More specific details about his death weren’t immediately available, but authorities said it appeared to be accidental.
Webb was also a social media star. His TikTok account, where he often posted about his life and athletic achievements, had more than 550,000 followers.
Triangle Lake and the nearby Lake Creek Falls are a popular destination for swimmers who navigate naturally formed rock slides by inner tube and swim in several swimming holes.
Webb was expected to compete for starting tight end this fall with Terrance Ferguson and Moliki Matavao, the RegisterGuard reported.
During his four seasons at Oregon, Webb recorded 31 receptions, 296 yards, and four touchdowns. His first career touchdown was arguably his most famous play, a 20-yard catch over a defender on a ball thrown by Justin Herbert in the 2019 season opener against Auburn.
The player nicknamed “Spider” was a consensus four-star out of Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento; a top 10 tight end and top 300 prospects by ESPN, Rivals, and 247Sports; and the No. 1 tight end in California by ESPN and 247Sports in 2018, the newspaper reported.